Celtic fringe determined to stay centre stage in the Heineken Cup

The senior official of the RaboDirect PRO12 league has made it clear that
clubs in the Celtic/Italian competition will not change their Heineken Cup
qualification rules to satisfy the demands of their counterparts in England
and France.

Aviva Premiership and French Top 14 aides have been greater representation in the European competition and have also called for an end to the system of national quotas within the PRO12 tournament.

As things stand, Wales and Ireland are guaranteed three Heineken slots each year, with Scotland and Italy taking two apiece.

Earlier this year, the French Rugby Federation, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby and Premiership Rugby submitted a formal request for a review of the current Heineken Cup arrangements.

All stakeholder bodies are due to meet in Dublin next month to discuss possible changes – which could come into effect in 2014 – but RaboDirect PRO12 chief executive John Feehan has said that his clubs will not be bullied into a new structure.

“I don’t think we should change our product because somebody from outside tells us to,” said Feehan, who was attending the PRO12 season launch in Glasgow. “I understand their complaints, but those are issues for the English and French to deal with domestically.”

Feehan’s hand was strengthened last season when the PRO12 produced three of the Heineken Cup’s four semi-finalists, but England and France, with far larger audiences, have the greater clout as far as television revenues are concerned. According to Feehan, however, the absence of relegation from the PRO 12 leads to better rugby.

“The fact that you can rotate your squad [without fear of relegation] through a season means you end up with better quality rugby at the end of the day,” said Feehan. “We have 22 rounds which is a hell of a lot of rugby and we need to rotate squads to have quality throughout, and that’s what we will continue doing.”

Speaking at the launch, new Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend said he was relishing the role he assumed following the controversial removal of Sean Lineen last season and stressed that he felt under no particular pressure in the job.

“The day-to-day involvement is more time consuming,” said Townsend, who was previously attack coach for the Scotland national team. “Being immersed in rugby is fantastic.

“I was obviously aware of the challenges and responsibilities. There are things that take a lot of time – the management of people, looking at strengthening the squad, succession planning - every aspect. But it's all linked to the rugby, which is what I most enjoy.”

While other PRO12 sides, particularly in Wales, have been forced to cut their squads this season, Glasgow and Edinburgh have been able to strength their resources, with both Scottish clubs bringing in a number of established Test players.

“We're stronger than at any time in my time here,” said Glasgow captain Al Kellock, who came to the club in 2005. “That comes from the fact our budgets have been increased. Even at training the competition between players has increased.”